Athens party could get extra big

A combination of Halloween falling on a Friday and no Ohio State University football game on Saturday might invite a larger-than-usual crowd to celebrate Halloween weekend in Athens.

A combination of Halloween falling on a Friday and no Ohio State University football game on Saturday might invite a larger-than-usual crowd to celebrate Halloween weekend in Athens.

That is the speculation, anyway, from the Ohio Department of Public Safety.

And the autumn weather tomorrow is supposed to be dry, crisp and splendid.

Athens officials don't disagree that the makings of a huge party are in place. They just would prefer as little mention as possible of a tradition that attracts tens of thousands each year.

"We would prefer not to have any publicity about it," deadpanned Athens Police Lt. Dave Williams.

"You're assuming we want publicity," said Mayor Paul Wiehl, laughing as he picked up the phone. "This is my first Halloween as mayor so I don't know what to expect."

The Athens Halloween tradition dates back to the early 1970s. Thousands of costumed celebrants ranging from Ohio University students and their guests to revelers from all over the state have piled into uptown Athens to party hardy ever since.

New this year is an outdoor beer garden, which is being promoted as a way to help defray city costs for the gigantic street party. Last year, city officials estimated they spent more than $69,000, mostly for police and cleanup.

This year, a volunteer committee approved to assemble and staff a fenced-in beer garden for those 21 or older will share a percentage of the sales with the city.

Police do not predict crowd size, but they are prepared for the event, horse-mounted units and all.

There is the time change, too. At 2 a.m. Sunday, clocks will be set back one hour.

"They get to consume alcohol for another hour. That usually doesn't help our situation any," Williams said.

The State Highway Patrol will have a "visible presence" on primary and secondary routes surrounding the Athens area and will support local law enforcement through the weekend, state Public Safety Director Henry Guzman said in a news release.

State agents with the Ohio Investigative Unit will be on the lookout for underage drinkers and any bars serving them.

mlane@dispatch.com

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